Monthly Archives: January 2017

Find work meaningful and enjoyable? Is there purpose in your daily work? The more we find joy in our work the more motivation we will possess.

Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing. It’s when you’ve had everything to do, and you’ve done it.

—Margaret Thatcher

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

—Aristotle

The Presidency is an all-day and nearly an all-night job. Just between you and me and gatepost, I like it.

—Harry S. Truman

I took violin lessons from age six to fourteen, but had no luck with my teachers, for whom music did not transcend mechanical practicing.I really began to learn only after I had fallen in love with Mozart’s sonatas. The attempt to reproduce their singular grace compelled me to improve my technique. I believe, on the whole, that love is a better teacher than sense of duty.

—Albert Einstein

God equips us for work and created us for work–it is a gift to work.

Psalm 90:17 “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Pray-— that you have “everything” to do–and become supremely satisfied this evening, to reach towards perfection in each task, enjoying the long days, fall in love with your purpose set out for you. Pray for God’s favor resting upon you in all your endeavors….hands, heart, head. May your light shine for all to see. AMEN.

My husband and I did a little yard work this weekend. A balmy forty degrees for a few hours allowed us to take down the Christmas greens and rake the leaves in the front yard. We got excited and thought, “Let’s take out that scraggly bush in the garden since it is wet and probably easy to dig out today.”

Ding Dong mortals. Ring the bell on the common sense. Ground is frozen even though it has been warm for a few hours and rained one or two days. The shovel went about a half an inch. We laughed— kind of. Trimmed up the bush, gathered up the leaves, and filled up two refuse bags. Came in soaking wet and tired.

Does God smile upon our “I’ve got this under control” attitude…and just wait until the shovel hits the ground? Are our ideas sometimes just crazy to Him when we don’t consider How mighty his works are…how He is alongside us in all we do?

Dedicate your service today to God…in all you do!

Psalm 5:12Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as a shield.

Pray:

Father, I thank You that my work shall prosper today. Show me mistakes BEFORE they occur and reveal to me how to be more effective and efficient in my work. Help me to bring glory and honor to You in all my actions. Thank You that my mind is active and alert. I put out of my thoughts all personal concerns, and I focus totally on the work before me, giving full attention to the duties and responsibilities that have been assigned me this day.

I pray that I will be humble in all that I do. Help me to be on the lookout for ways to increase my contribution to the success of my work, in this way, I will find favor with You and with others. I bless you name forever and ever. AMEN

Early in the morning, I walk into the kitchen to find my winter hyacinth flopped over…It has tumbled into the sink from its perch on the window shelf above the sink–again. The fabulous bloom is too much for this small, curvy vase…I suppose, or is it?

What is going on here? This lovely white bloom stands all day tall and straight giving me great joy as I go about my work. It has grown tall in the window, reaching towards the west. The fragrance wafts above the clanking dishes as I wash.

In this vase, a sort of bondage, the hyacinth has given me a spectacular show. Is this flower groaning…?

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning….Romans 8: 18-22a

When division is apparent and words are stressful and full of malice–does creation

feel the stresses of our nation, our world?

This week will be one of new beginnings and endings for our nation. Legacy and Looking Ahead.

The hyacinth may be a meaningful selection for inaugural week. It is:

Offered when you have acted thoughtlessly

Offered as a silent prayer of hope (in white)

The white stars on this plant are like those on our flag.

The juice from the wild hyacinth is starchy and was at one time used as glue…(used as a bookbinder years ago!) perhaps we need some glue to pull us together this week.

The dried root can be used as a styptic (stop bleeding) by contracting and closing tissue around a wound. Hyacinth juice mixed with lemon juice reduces inflammation of abscesses when applied topically. Very useful…if you know how to use it…..

The bulb is poisonous, it contains oxalic acid which is so strong it can remove rust….like our words….some are so strong they too can remove rust.

This plant has been a visual for me…present suffering…future glory.

The inhaled aroma of this flower, delivers a sense of awe. Intensely oily green and intoxicating floral note of great depth. It fills me with wonder. Why does God give me this beauty so abundantly?

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans...Romans 8:28

Pray: Father, thank you for the beauty of creation. Help us be caretakers of what you have given us–at home, at work, in our communities. Thank you for the signs that creation show us–and the rhythm it gives to our life. Let this week of transition be one that we can be as believers–glue–and not oxalic acid–with our fellow man. Let us trust the Spirit’s groans when we do not know what to pray for…knowing–trusting–the Spirit’s intercession.

Winter, even in the warmer climates, can be humdrum. The lack of daylight hours and post holiday clean up (emotional and physical) can bring our days into a misty gray.

The famous Dunkin Donuts ad “time to make the donuts” can reflect our own lives. Get up, get ready, go to work, come home, shuffle around, sleep, repeat.

Brother Lawrence, the 17th century Carmelite lay brother did not have the winter doldrums–he did not think his very routine life was a “time to make the donuts” rut: his thoughts: — “work is not a hindrance (no obstacle) to prayer. But an an avenue to presence to God.”

Brother Lawrence: “I make it my business to persevere in this Holy presence…which I may call an actual presence of God …secret conversation of the soul with God…causes me joy…so great…I am forced to moderate them and prevent their appearance to others.”

Perhaps this is a season for secret conversations of the soul…for utter joy! Work can be an avenue. Look for an opportunity to acknowledge God today as you work. Look…hear…touch….and moderate your response!

Avoid the donuts. Stick to your new year’s diet. Sorry for the photo.

Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Pray: Father, I affirm that I obey Your Word by making an honest living with my head, heart and hands that I may be able to give to those in need. In Your strength and according to your grace I provide for myself and my family. May I express the joy in the day for your presence.

Thank you for the grace to remain diligent in seeking knowledge and skill in areas in which I am inexperienced. I ask You for wisdom and the ability to understand justice and fair dealing. Thank you for making me successful today. Amen

The Bible is better with friends. When you explore one another’s perspectives, you discover things in God’s Word that you might not notice on your own. Prayer is powerful with friends.

Daniel 2:17-23 (NIV)

17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

Pray: Lord, May I have a friend (or friends!) that I can pray with and read Scripture and share how you work in my daily life. Please use me to be a friend like Daniel had–to pray for mercy, and be on call when friends are in need. Thank you for the opportunities ahead in 2017. Help me to have open eyes, open heart, open hands. Thank you for all that you have provided. Amen.